Liquid-treating apparatus.



A. IENSI-III.v LIQUID TIIEATIIIG APPARATUS.'

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I6. 1915.

Lmww. Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. JENSEN.

LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man AuG. 16. 1915.

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AAGE JENSEN, 0F SAN' FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

LIQUID-TREATING APPARATUS.

inerente.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented 1T an. 3U, 1911.

Application led August 16, 1915. Serial No. 45,803.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that lf, AAGE JENSEN, a citizenof the United States, residing at San -Francisco, inthe county of SanFrancisco and State of California, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Liquid- 'lreating Apparatus; and ll do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, and to the figures and letters of reference markedthereon.

rlhis invention relates to the treatment of liquids by varyingtemperature and by changing the atmospheric conditions under which thetreatment occurs, as, for example, by producing vacuous conditions orconditions of pressure whereby incorporated air may be extracted and theliquid treated in such wise as to change the temperature rapidly, butwithout affecting the physical or chemical qualities injuriously.

The form of apparatus adopted for illustrating the invention is oneespecially designed for the treatment of milk and analogous liquids,either for the purpose of pasteurizing, sterilizing, emulsifying orcooling under either a vacuum or pressure, depending upon the resultswhich it is desired to attain, all as will be hereinafter particularlydescribed.

Referring to `the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a section in aIvertical plane taken longitudinally through an apparatus embodying thepresent improvements, certain of the parts being shown in elevation withsections broken away. Fig. 2 is an elevation looking at the right handend of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with portions broken away and insection. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation looking at one end of the agitatoralone.

Like reference characters in the several figures indicate the sameparts.

rlhe container for the liquid to be treated is preferably in the form ofamore or less -cylindrical shell l which is formed with rounded cornersbetween the head portions 2 and the cylindrical portion 1, so as toleave no angles for the accumulation of dirt and to present a surfacewhich may be readily cleansed and freed from any accumulations of anycharacter whatsoever. Surrounding the container 1, is an insulatingjacket embodying filling material 3 preferably of a cellular characterand an outer jacket, cover or shield 4, which conforms in contour to thecontour of the container 1. The whole structure is mounted on legs orcradles 5, and extending through the walls are suitable openings forpipe connection and for the agitator connection, as will be presentlydescribed.

' lnasmuch as the container is adapted for use under conditions whichrequire that it shall withstand either internal or external pressure,provision is made for giving access to the interior through a manhole 6,Fig. 2, which is preferably closed by a clamp cover plate 7 having aglass eye 8 therein through which the interior of the container may beobserved.

One end of the container is provided with .a relatively large removablehead 9 clamped in place by set screws 10, and in this head and in thewall of the container opposite the head, there are mounted journalbearings 11, said bearings being preferably located below thelongitudinal center of the container. 'lhe bearings are adapted for thereception of the trunnions or shaft upon which the agitator ortemperature controlling means is located. ln the preferred constructionaI tubular shaft 12 eX- tends through the bearings and projects atopposite ends of the container. Upon the shaft within the containerthere is mounted an agitator formed by a plurality of spiral pipe coils13 and 14:, respectively, the ends of the independent coils beingconnected with the shaft and communicating with independent ductsextending longitudinally of the shaft, the arrangement being such thattreating medium may be circulated through the coils cach independentlyof the other, whereby the circulating medium may be caused to travel inthe same or opposite directions, or whereby a heating medium may becaused to circulate through one coil and a cooling medium made tocirculate through the other coil, thereby rendering it unnecessary tomake provision for circulating different media through the same duct, asin devices of this character heretofore manufactured. A convenient. andsimple arrangement for forming the ducts within the tubular shaftconsists in pro.-

viding `apertures withinv the shaft through v which the ends of theagitator coils 13 and 14 may communicate with the interior of the shaftand opposite these openings there are mounted'in the shaft headers 15and 16. The header 15 has a peripheral duct on one side whichcommunicates at 15 with the tubular shaft at one end of the containerand a second peripheral duct which communicates with an interior pipe 17extending axially through the shaft 12 to the opposite end of thecontainer. One of the ducts in the header communicates with one of thecoils, as, for example, the coil 13, and the other duct communicateswith the other coil, as, for example, the coil 14. A second pipe 18connects with the header centrally at one end of the container and aduct from the pipe 18 extends through the header into the intermediateportion of' the shaft 12, as shown at 19. The other header 16 isprovided with two oppositely located peripheral ducts 16a and 1Gb whichcommunicate respectively with the oppositie ends of the coils 13 and 14and with the tubular shaft 12 on opposite sides of the header. The pipes17 and 18 extend through filling pieces 17Fl and 18a, respectively, andbeyond the filler pieces, the ends of the tubular shaft 12 communicatewith fixed pipes 19 and 20, for the exit or admission of treating fluid,said pipes 19 and 20 passing through stuffing boxes and glands 19a and20a, respectively, in. the ends of the shaft 12. Surrounding the shaft12 at each end are stationary boxes 21 provided with packing glands ateach end and formed with an interior annular duct with which pipes 22and 23 communicate, there being suitable pcripheriil apertures 21aformed in the pipe to permit of the circulation of treating fluid fromthe pipes 22 and 23 into the shaft 12.

In the arrangement shown, the pipes 22 and 23 are provided With valves22a and 23a and treating Huid passing in through the pipe 22, forexample, circulates through one of the agitator coils and escapesthrough the pipe 19 at the same end of the container, and treating fluidpassing in through the pipe 23 circulates through the other coil of theagitator and escapes through the pipe 20 at that end of the container,thus providing for two independent circulating ducts extending throughthe agitator and through which the treating fluid may be circulated inopposite directions when an exceedingly uniform treatment of the liquidis desired, or through which the treating fluid lmay be circulated, forthe successive,

'or, in some instances, simultaneous treatment of the fluid by differentmedia.

The coils of the agitator may be conveniently connected with the shaft12 by brazing and by connectors 24 which will present a smooth andfinished exterior of a character Well calculated to prevent theaccumulation of dirt in cracks or corners and whereby all possibility ofa leakage or communication between the interior of the container and theducts for the circulating medium is avoided. To give additional strengthto the coils they may be supported b v coil supporting arms 25 extendingradially from the shaft to the intermediate portions of the coils.

In addition to the openings heretofore referred to in the walls of thecontainer, a pipe connection 26 is provided for sepa.- rate vacuum andpressure gages 27 and 28, either of which may be cut off fromcommunication with the container by stop cocks 29. A safety valve 30also communicates with the container and at the top of the containerthere is provided a connection through which the pressure conditions inthe'container may be controlled. This connection embodies a pipe or duct31 in which is located a combined vacuum and pressure valve 32 having aspring-pressed, outwardly-opening valve 32a. Beyond the valve the pipe3l is in communication with a vacuum pump 33, and it may alsocommunicate with a condensing chamber 34.

At the bottom of the container there is provided a discharge valve 35,preferably having a nipple extremity 35 whereby a suitable connectionmay be made for either filling the container or discharging the contentsthereof. The shaft 12, it will be understood, passes through suitablepacking glands in the ends of the container and motion is imparted tothe shaft for rotating the agitator through gearing which is preferablyof such character as will permit of varying speeds of rotation.Conveniently. supporting brackets are arranged at each end of thecontainer, said brackets being formed by four rigid rods 36 suitablyconnected together and adapted to support a bearing 37 for a shaft 38carrying a pinion 39 meshing with a bevel gear 40 on the shaft 12. Theshaft 38 at its outer end is supported in a fixed bearing 41 andintermediate the bearings 37 and 41, it carries pulleys 42 and 42, forthe application of a suitable driving belt. Both pulleys are normallyfree on the shaft 38, but the pulley 42 is adapted to be clutchedthereto by a sliding pinion 43 which may be moved longitudinally of theshaft into and out of engagement with the pulley 42, and into and out ofengagement with a secondary or speed reducing gearing embodying pinions43 and 44, journa-led on a shaft 45, the pinion 44 being in mesh With apinion 46 on the pulley. The pinion 43 moves into and out of engagementWith the pinion 431 and into and out of mesh with the clutch face on thepulley. The arrangement is such that at an intermediate point neitherpinion is engaged so that the agitator under these conditions is freedfrom the driving connection, but ordinarily the belt will be shifted limmisere from one of the pulleys to the other, when the movement of theagitator is to be arrested.

'llhe pressure controlling connection 3l is provided below the valve 32with a glass eye 47 through which the character of the vapor passing 0Efrom the lcontents of the container may be observed.

The apparatus may be utilized for performing various operations in thetreatment of liquids. ing milk and cream, it is placed convenient to thework to be performed and the necessary connections made. After theapparatus is thoroughly cleaned and sterilized, the milk or cream to bepasteurized is placed in the container, either through the manholeopening, or it may be drawn in by suction through the discharge valve35. The container is filled in accordance with the kind of liquid beingtreated, and the viscosity of the same, but it is preferably filled to alevel that will completely cover the coils of the agitator, whereuponthe apparatus is closed tightly and the vacuum pump is set `in motion.The airis removed through the connection 31, whereupon the milk or creamwill immediately begin to swell or rise, this eHect being caused by theexpansion of minute particles of air incorporated therein. rl`heexpansion will often completely fill the area of the container above theliquid, or the liquid will double its volume, and the operator byobservation through the glassI eye 47 may observe when vapor or liquidcommences to carry over and will regulate the suction of the pumpaccordingly. The agitator is set in slow motion at first and heatingmedium, preferably hot water, circulated through the agitator coils. Thegage 27 will indicate the vacuum in the container and of course asuitable thermometer will be provided for indicating the temperature.rllhe swelling or foaming will quickly change to a boiling action, thetime depending upon the vacuum maintained and the temperature of theliquid. When all the air has been removed, the action of the pump isdiscontinued, whereupon the valve 32at will automatically set and closecommunication with the condenser preventing any back fiow orrecontamination. The heating continues until a temperature ofapproximately 142 F. is obtained, at which time the agitation is stoppedand the milk held at the desired temperature for about thirty minutes,after which cooling medium is introduced and the agitator again set inmotion. When the temperature has been reduced to the desired degree, theoperation is completed and the milk or cream may be discharged into anysuitable container or bottles, this being performed under vacuumconditions, if desired, so 'as to keep the product from furtherexposure.

Thus, for pasteurizing and cool- Should it be desired to completelysterilize the product, then the procedure above outlined is followed,except that the temperature is raised to about 236 F. and held fortwenty minutes, it being found that this. temperature will destroy allgerm life without material change in physical composition, and, withthis apparatus, without causing any cooking effect. When temperaturesabove that of boiling water are desired, the heating medium employed isusually steam, under pressure which is circulated in the agitator coils.

`Where the container is employed as a fermenting or ripening tank, milkmay be treated, for example, in accordancel with the above procedure asto temperature, depending upon the character of ferment used, the motherculture is then introduced at the desired temperature, and thattemperature is maintained for the length of time necessary for themother culture to incubate. When the proper degree of acid developmenthas been attained, the agitator is set in slow motion and cooling mediumis introduced into the agitator coils. After the temperature has beenlowered considerably the gear is shifted to increase the speed ofrotation of the agitator and this agitation at the higher speed willresult in a complete emulsi- -9 fication and a product which does notreadily separate when leftstanding for long periods of time.

By the provision of an agitator formed of coils of pipe which receivetheincoming treating fluid at the end of the container, nearest that towhich the treating fluid passes through the wall of the container, thetreating fluid, when in its hottest condition, acts on the liquid beingtreated only through walls which are in constant motion, and as aconsequence no part of the fluid being treated rests in contact withsuch Walls at the hottest point, for a sufficient length of time topermit of a cooking action, and by providing independent ducts in theagitator through which the treating lnedium may be circulated inopposite directions, the whole liquid being treated may not only bequickly raised to a uniform temperature, but it will be maintained at auniform temperature, a result which is difficult of attainment where asingle coil' is employed receiving the treating fluid at the highesttemperature at one end and discharging it at lowest temperature at theopposite end. The coils not only agitate the liquid angularly but giveit a progressive movement longitudinally of the container, thus insuringan internal circulation in the container which brings every particle ofthe liquid into intimate relation to the coils at some point and insuresan effective action, with the possibility of changing temperature withgreat rapidity.

ln some instances it is found desirable to employ the independent ductsin the agitator for the circulation of different treating fluids, as,for example, hot Water for heating and brine for cooling` and in suchcases the provision of independent ducts i s of great advantage,inasmuch as connections do not have to be changed and the corrosion anddestruction of the walls of the duct will occur with much less rapiditythan is the case where first one medium and then another is passedthrough the same.

What is claimed is:

l. In an apparatus for treating liquids, the combination with acontainer, of an agitator embodying a plurality of independent ductsextending through the same, shaft connections at opposite ends of theagitator journaled in the container walls, independent ducts in eachshaft connection communicating respectively with the independent ductsin the agitator, independent treating fluid supply means communicatingwith said ducts respectively, whereby treating fluids may be circulatedthrough the independent ducts in the agitator independently in eitherdirection, and means for rotating the agitator.

2. In an apparatus for treating liquids, the combination with acontainer, of an agitator embodying a plurality of independent spiralducts, shaft connections at opposite ends of the agitator journaled inthe container walls,'independent ducts in each shaft connectioncommunicating respectively with the spiral ducts of the agitator,independent treating fluid supply means communicating with said ductsrespectively, whereby treating fluids may be circulated through thecoils independently in either direction, and means for rotating theagitator.

3. In an apparatus for treating liquids, the combination with acontainer, of an agitator embodying a shaft journaled in the containerWalls and having a plurality of independent ducts in each end thereof, aplurality of coils forming an agitator having whereby treating fluid maybe circulated through the coils independently in either direction, andmeans for rotating the agitator.

4. In an apparatus for treating liquids, the combination with acontainer, of an agitator within the container embodying a plurality ofindependent ducts, a tubular shaft on which the agitator is mountedjournaled in the walls of the container, headers mounted within theshaft and having ducts therein, communicating with the shaft on oppositesides of the headers, said ducts being in communication with the ductsin the agitator, and independent ducts Within the ends of the shaftcommunicating with the ducts in the headers whereby independentcommunicating circulating ducts are formed extending out at the ends ofthe shaft and through the independent ducts of the agitator, andindependent Huid treating supply means communicating respectively withthe ducts in the ends of the shaft.

5. In an apparatus for treating liquids, the combination with a closedcontainer, of a tubular shaft journaled in the walls of the containerand having ducts in its op: posite ends exterior of the container,independent tubular coils mounted on the shaft within the container andcommunicating respectively with the ducts in the respective ends of theshaft, means for exhausting air from the container, means forrotatingthe shaft, independent treating liquid supply meanscommunicating with the ducts in the shaft ends, and means for admittingand discharging liquid to be treated, substantially as described.

AAGE JENSEN.

